Pub & Bar News is sponsored by The Kitchen Porters Club
Renowned hospitality family, The Gladwins, have officially opened The Black Horse in Amberley, a 19th-century pub with rooms just a short drive from the family vineyard, Nutbourne in the South Downs – strengthening their agrotourism roots in Sussex.
It’s their first venture outside London and their first pub with bedrooms, bringing together seasonal cooking, local wines, beautiful design, and the warm, personal hospitality that they’re known for. It’s a true family affair, where every detail reflects the Gladwins’ hands-on approach and their love for the Sussex countryside that first shaped them.
Following a soft refurb, the Grade II listed Black Horse has 11 bedrooms, now with baths added, a brilliant garden with gather-round fire pit, and a pub and restaurant with an open kitchen running through to the garden room (where breakfast is served) – creating both a countryside escape and a hub for the local community. The food is at the heart of it all: meat comes from the family farm, wines from their Nutbourne Vineyards, and most of the ingredients are grown, foraged, or sourced within just a few miles. There’s also a garden BBQ menu, full of skewers and seasonal plates that celebrate the very best of Sussex.
Inside, the pub and rooms are warm and welcoming, with interiors by Ellie Dichler, combining reclaimed antiques, locally made furniture, and artisanal touches. Pottery comes from The Amberley Pottery makers and wall lights and lampshades by British designers Matilda Goad and Imogen Pope London. In the bedrooms, linens are organic cotton, fabrics printed or sourced locally, and throws are made from 100% British wool.
For the Gladwins, the opening of The Black Horse marks a true homecoming. Gregory Gladwin, based in Sussex, runs the family farm and vineyard alongside their parents, producing the meats, eggs, and award-winning wines that now supply the pub. His wife, Lani Gladwin, arranges fresh flowers from the farm in each bedroom and on the tables daily, and artwork by the brothers’ mother adds personal touches throughout.
In the kitchen, Oliver Gladwin leads the menu, crafting simple, ingredient-led dishes that change with the seasons, while Richard Gladwin oversees the guest experience, bringing his decades of London hospitality expertise back to Sussex.
Following their philosophy of ‘what grows together, goes together’, the menu showcases the very best of seasonal Sussex and the surrounding South Downs: fresh AAA Maldon oysters with a rhubarb mignonette, South Coast scallops with peas and elderflower, tender veal sweetbreads with chestnut mushrooms, and roasts of Sussex beef and vineyard lamb from the family farm. There’s also a BBQ menu with grilled skewers of spring lamb, monkfish with kohlrabi, free-range pork belly, and halloumi from Sussex High Weald Dairy, as well as mini pies at the bar for those wanting to come for a quick pint and snack.
Every Monday, The Gladwins will host a Wine Supper Club, bringing locals and visitors together around one table for a 3-course dinner with wine pairing.
With seasonal cooking, thoughtfully designed interiors, and genuine family hospitality, The Black Horse is a true celebration of Sussex bringing the heart of their London kitchens back to the South Downs. Open for lunch, dinner, drinks, and stays, it offers guests a genuine family-run experience where every dish, detail, and corner feels unmistakably local and welcoming.
Pub & Bar News is sponsored by The Kitchen Porters Club
